Dispensing arrangement



1966 c. E. SCHROER ETAL 3,284,147

DISPENSING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11., 1964 INVENTORS CARL E. Sci/05k BY Mama 6. 5190151 ran 7% zap-0.2M)

1966 c. E. SCHROER ETAL 3,

DISPENS ING ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 61m: A". \swzeone BY Mum/w t. 54 42:; ram

afforney United States Patent 3,284,147 DESPENSENG ARRANGEMENT Carl E. Schroer, 6551 Pollack Ave, Evansville, Ind., and William C, Brazelton, Evansville, Ind; said Brazelton assignor to said Schroer Filed Aug. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 388,793 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-71) The present invention relates to a dispensing arrange ment, and more particularly to new and novel structure which readily combines with a merchandise containing shipping carton for providing ease and simplicity in consecutively dispensing such merchandise at the desired point of sale.

As is known, one of the troublesome areas in a grocery supermarket, for example, is the continual rearranging required for soap products, in that the rows thereof on the shelves, through handling of the customers, generally become upset, oftentimes falling onto the adjacent floor. Moreover, the problem is amplified because of the various brands, colors and sizes of the soap offered to the consumer. Actually, considerable overhead, in proportion to other articles in the supermarket, is expended to provide an orderly presentation of the oap, which, of course, directly relates to time and money.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicants herein have provided a new and novel dispensing arrangement for a packaged article as, for example, the aforedescribed bars of soap. The applicants invention utilizes the original shipping container for the merchandise, modified, however, in this instance, by a particular arrangement of the soap bars therewithin, and having a replaceable facing member disposed at one end of the shipping container. In supermarket use, as taught by the invention herein, the operator merely opens one end of the shipping container and, thereafter, as necessary, the other end of the shipping container, and places the facing member thereover, the combination providing a neat and orderly arrangement for dispensing the articles contained within the shipping container.

Moreover, the facing member, with its front surface, provides an area for advertising and the like. Additionally, through new and novel indicating means, the supermarket operator can readily determine if a new supply of the packaged merchandise is required because of customer purchases. The invention at hand combines positive use with over-all simplicity in structure, representing a modest outlay for the supermarket operator and, at the same time, manufacturing economies.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing arrangement for container carried merchandise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing arrangement which combines the shipping container for a commodity with dispensing structure to provide a highly desirable selective approach for emptying the contents of the shipping container.

Another and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel commodity dispensing arrangement which is pleasing in appearance, being adaptable to selectively cover each end of the commodity carrying shipping container; which readily indicates when the contents of the shipping container reaches a certain amount; which is simple to manufacture; and which, at the same time, represents considerable convenience to the operators of the premises in which the invention is used, as well as the ultimate consumer.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein ice FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, with the side wall removed, showing a dispensing arrangement in accordance with the teachings of the applicants new and novel invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, principally showing details of the gating mechanism forming part of the applicants new and novel dispensing arrangement;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in cross section, showing typical means for selectively indicating the amount of contents remaining in the commodity container;

FIG. 4 is an'enlarged cross-sectional view of the roller member assembly for the indicating means of FIG. 3, taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of the spring mounting assembly for the indicating means of FIG. 3, taken at line 55 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants new and novel dispensing arrangement 10 typically comprises a merchandise holding shipping container 12, where, for purposes of illustration herein, the articles being shipped and dispensed are conventional soap bars 11. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shipping container 12 is made from thin paperboard, defined by side walls, top and bottom walls, and end walls, the latter being identified by the reference numerals 12a and 12a and having perforated portions (not shown) in each which permit merchandise passage from the container 12, to be discussed more fully herebelow.

Disposed within the shipping container 12, and as should be apparent from FIG. 1, are a series of dividers 14, 16, 18, and 20, and 14', 16, 13, and 21V defining rows of merchandise, each being made from heavier paper stock, such as reinforced paperboard, for example. Each of the dividers 14 and 14a is retained in position through engagement with the inner surfaces of the: end walls 12a, and 12a respectively, and the adjacent top and bottom walls, while dividers 16 and 16 each have an end extending into a surface of the dividers 18 and 13', while a similar relationship is involved between and end of the dividers 18 and 18 and the dividers 2t and 20.

In use, the other ends of the dividers 16, 1-6, 18, 18, 20 and 20 bear against a portion of a facing member or dispenser control 30, and, as should be evident from the drawing, each of the dividers 20 and 26 has a return fold, where the space so provided receives the merchandise being carried.

The divider arrangement is completed by a hollow divider member 22 which separates the contents of the shipping container 12 into different, typically equal, volume. The divider 22 includes end portions 22a and 22a disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the ends 12a and 12a, respectively, of the container 12, which extend, by reason of scoring, to define flaps 22b and 22b adjacent the side Walls for purposes of internal strength.

In any event, the dispenser control or facing member 30 is adapted to be positioned on an end of the shipping container 12, after the perforated portion has been removed from the latter. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the facing member is made from a light weight plastic material, where a rim 30a thereon extends, in engaging relationship, around portions of the side walls and the top and bottom walls of the shipping container 12.

As evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, a series of gating members 31, 32, 33 and 341 are disposed between opposite side walls of the facing member 30, respectively being secured to a rotatable shaft 31a, 32a, 33a and 34a, where each of such members is normally defined by two extending portions, one shorter portion being engaged, in this instance, by the soap bar 11, while a longer portion extends into the path of travel of the soap bar. The latter arrangement insures positive urging of the shorter portion of the gating members against the soap bars 11 in the respective rows during dispensing action, where, as the rows are emptied, the gating members consecutively move into an upward position, one of which is represented by broken lines in FIG. 1.

The facing member 30 has an opening 30b near its bottom portion through which the dispensed soap bars 11 are removed. An apron 30c, forming part of the facing member 30 and having a curved front edge 30d, receives and limits movement of the soap bars 11 and permits the customers viewing of same prior to purchase.

The facing member 30 is further completed through an extended tubular member 3% which is received within the hollow divider 22, the latter having an opening (not shown) in both end portions 22a and 22a thereof for permitting entrance of such tubular member 302. As will become evident from FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, and the following discussion, the tubular member 306 is part of an indicating system which signals the amount of merchandise remaining in the container 12.

More specifically, the free inner end of the tubular member 3% has an axis mounted roller 41 therewithin, where a recessed band 41a thereon receives a flexible member which extends through the tubular member 30e. Another portion of the tubular member 3% is cut out, as at 30], where a spring 44, disposed on an axle 44a mounted on the tubular member 30a, has an arm 44b bearing against the portion SW of the tubular member 30e, where another arm 44c receives an end of the aforesaid flexible member 35.

An opening 220 is provided in the divider 22 to permit the arm 440 to directly contact the soap bar 11, as shown in FIG. 1. The other free end of the flexible member 35 supports an indicating member 36 which, in this instance, is in the form of two disks at right angles to each other. The indicating member 36 typically extends through an opening 30g in the facing member 30.

In use, the soap bars 11 are packaged within the shipping container 12 in rows defined by the dividers 14 and 14', 1'6 and 16, 18 and 18, 20 and 20, and 22. The container 12 is then sealed in the conventional manner and shipped to its ultimate destination which, by way of illustration, may typically be a supermarket. The operator of the supermarket then tears open either end 1211 or 12a of the container 12 at the perforations, slips the dispenser control or facing member 30 thereon in the arrangement of FIG. 1, and, thereafter, places the assembled unit on a shelf for customer use.

It will be noted that the shorter portion of each gating member 31, 32, 33 and 34 prevents any movement of the soap bars 11 upon assembly, where the weight of the soap bars 11 traveling through the dispensing passageway to the opening 30b in the facing member 30 maintains the respective rows in such a non-dispensing relation; however, for example, after the two soap bars 11 in the top row are dispensed, the gating member 31 moves into the position shown by the broken lines in FIG. 1, releasing and permitting dispensing of the bars of soap 11 in the second row.

The preceding operation is repeated as each row of soap is dispensed, as the customers remove same through the opening 30b upon seeing the soap on the apron 3110. During such time and while the soap bar 11 immediately above the spring 44 of the indicating system is in contact therewith, the indicating member 36 remains at its position of FIG. 1, so that the supermarket operator can readily and visually note that the shipping container 12 still contains an inventory of merchandise.

When a soap bar 11 is no longer in engagement with the arm .440 of the spring 44 (see FIG. 3), such spring 44 opens, causing arm 440 to move upwardly and the flexible member 35 to move on the roller 41 and, hence, the indicating member 36 moves into a space within the facing member 30. In other Words, at this time, the supermarket operator realizes that one portion of the container is empty, or nearly empty, for if a soap bar 11 is still on the apron 30c, and the indicating member 36 is no longer present, in the example shown, the maximum of three bars of soap remains to be dispensed.

When the aforesaid first portion of the shipping container 12 is empty, the facing member 30 is removed, and the container turned upside down, so that end 12a thereof is in the position of the end 12a of FIG. 1. The facing member 30 is then replaced on the end 12a of the shipping container 12 and the same dispensing procedure occurs as described hereabove.

It should be apparent that when the tubular member Site is positioned within the divider 22, the arm 44a of the spring 44 immediately assumes the position of FIG. 1, releasing the indicating member 36 to the position of FIG. 1. Moreover, as the gating members are resilient, the soap bars 11 may pass through the dispensing passageway towards the apron 30c, even though the soap bars may bend such gating members during passage. In any event, contact is assured between the longer portion of each of the gating members and the passing soap bar, providing effective blockage of the rows of soap not being dispensed. It might be noted that the individual gating members are of such configuration to permit nesting as each moves into its upward position.

From the preceding, it should be apparent that the applicants herein have provided a new and novel arrangement for packaging and dispensing articles of merchandise, whether it be soap, in the illustrated discussion, or any other type of commodity. The instant invention effectively utilizes the shipping container as part of the over-all dispensing arrangement, eliminating any continual personal handling by the user, as a supermarket operator, in placing and selling the commodity on his shelves. Moreover, the invention automatically provides a degree of order not present in the shelving of many previous items, and, at the same time, permits a direct advertising point at the place of dispensing, and one which can be changed, as desired. Additionally, the customer can select the wanted product without any danger of upsetting surrounding merchandise.

The dispensing arrangement described hereabove is, of course, susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention. For example, other type of gating members may be employed, and, further, the indicating system may be modified, and even enlarged, if desired, to encompass an audible sign-a1, either mechanically or electrically energized. Thus, the preceding description should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A dispensing arrangement comprising, in combination, a shipping container with tiers of inclined shelves for articles to be dispensed, said articles arranged on said shelves in rows which open at one portion of said container, an independent removable dispenser control device covering said portion of said container and communicating with said rows, means forming part of said dispenser control device and responsive to the passage J of said articles through said dispenser control device blocking movement of said articles from certain of said rows in preselected order, and content indicator means responsive to the passage of the articles in one of said rows for indicating the presence or absence of articles in said container.

2. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 where said content indicator means comprises a hollow member moved by said dispenser control device to a position within said container, spring means disposed on said hollow member responsive to the passage of said articles in said one of said rows and movable from a first engaging position with said articles to a second non-engaging position with said articles, and a signalling device connected to said spring means and being actuated thereby.

3. A dispensing arrangement comprising a container with tiers of inclined shelves for articles to be dispensed, said articles arranged on said shelves in rows, a group of which rows open at one portion of said container and another group of which rows open at another portion of said container, a dispenser control device positioned on said container and communicating first with said group of rows which open at said one portion of said container and then communicating with said another group of rows which open at said another portion of said container, said dispenser control device having an opening therein through which said articles pass during dispensing from said container, and means on said dispenser control device selectively blocking passage of articles from certain of said rows in response to the passage of said articles through said dispenser control device to said opening therein.

4. The dispensing arrangement of claim 3 where said one portion of said container and said another portion of said container are at opposite ends thereof.

5. The dispensing arrangement of claim 3 where content indicator means for indicating the presence or absence of articles in said container are provided as a part of said dispenser control device and comprise a. portion extending within said container.

6. A dispensing arrangement comprising a container with tiers of inclined shelves for articles to be dispensed, dividers disposed within said container arranging said articles on said shelves in rows, a group of which rows open at one end of said container and another group of which rows open at an opposite end of said container, and a dispenser control device positioned on said container and communicating first with said group of rows which open at said one end of said container and then communicating with said another group of rows which open at said opposite end of said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,165 4/1926 Piller 221-112 X 1,803,851 5/ 1931 Horvath 206-4412 X 1,904,760 4/ 1933 Matheson 312-42 2,115,923 5/1938 Cooper 206-4412 X 2,480,932 9/ 1949 James 312-45 2,933,217 4/ 1960 Salisbury et al. 221109 3,018,149 1/1962 Parker 312-45 FOREIGN PATENTS 788,455 1/ 1958 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. PETO, Assistant Examinerr 

1. A DISPENSING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH TIERS OF INCLINED SHELVES FOR ARTICLES TO BE DISPENSED, SAID ARTICLES ARRANGED ON SAID SHELVES IN ROWS WHICH OPEN AT ONE PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER, AN INDEPENDENT REMOVABLE DISPENSER CONTROL DEVICE COVERING SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ROWS, MEANS FORMING PART OF SAID DISPENSER CONTROL DEVICE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PASSAGE 